Saturday, January 06, 2007

Stephen Harper HATES Canada (at least the way it is now)

Prime Minster Stephen Harper hates Canada the way it is now and he is determined to remake this nation into a northern imitation of right wing America. You don't believe me??? Well, don't take my word for it - people should be held accountable for the things they say - here's what Stephen Harper has said about Canada in the past:

"Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it. Canadians make no connection between the fact that they are a Northern European welfare state and the fact that we have very low economic growth, a standard of living substantially lower than yours, a massive brain drain of young professionals to your country, and double the unemployment rate of the United States."- Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

"Your country [the USA], and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world."-Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

"Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status, led by a second-world strongman appropriately suited for the task."- Stephen Harper in his article "It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada," December 12th, 2000.

"The NDP could be described as basically a party of liberal Democrats, but it's actually worse than that, I have to say. And forgive me jesting again, but the NDP is kind of proof that the Devil lives and interferes in the affairs of men."-Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

"In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance."-Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

"What we clearly need is experimentation with market reforms and private delivery options [in health care]."- Stephen Harper, then President of the NCC, 2001.

"We also support the exploration of alternative ways to deliver health care. Moving toward alternatives, including those provided by the private sector, is a natural development of our health care system."- Stephen Harper, Toronto Star, October 2002.

I have read some Lib bloggers who think Jack will try to make some gains on proportional representation but I don't think that the Tories would ever go for it - they want a majority at some point and PR would make that VERY difficult.

All the polls seem to be saying that Canadians are getting really worried over the environment / global warming issues. That is why Harper is having his little green 'awakening'.

I think the only thing Layton and Harper can trade on are green/environmental initiatives.

No matter what happens, I can't see either the Libs or the Conservatives getting a majority this spring. I think after the next election, we may just find ourselves with another Harper minority government.

Man, if you go by this speach from years ago by Harper, you've REALLY gotta have a hate on for Trudeau right? I mean, friends with Castro, communist supporter, only western leader invited to Maos' funeral. I can't recall Harper macing a Canadian yet. Fundamentaly speaking of course.....

I suppose this posting was supposed to be a biting (excuse the term) indictment of Harper, but much of it reads rather well.

It seems bizarre that our health system is in such state of decay, yet any innovation that involves the private sector is shouted down. To dismiss private-sector solutions is putting ideology before the only people who really matter - the patients.

And while Harper may admire certain aspects of the conservative movement in the U.S., the Liberals have had a number of prominent U.S. Democrats up here to give speeches. (Kerry at the national convention, for example).

Constructively criticizing Canada is not hating it - indeed quite the opposite. You sounds like the old bumper sticker ("America - Love Or Leave It").

rabbit said, "It seems bizarre that our health system is in such state of decay, yet any innovation that involves the private sector is shouted down.:NONSENSE - our health care system IS NOT in a state of decay. That is a right wing myth perpetrated by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (a dangerous extreme right wing organization) and the Fraser Institute (another phony right wing entity).

The thing that absolutely mystifies me is that there are people out there who actually believe that we're going to get cheaper health care delivery through a private system.

I think the best way to combat any attempts to rationalize more private delivery is to ask people how exactly will health care become cheaper when you have to tack a profit on it?

The simple matter is that such things are only true in the nightmares of George Orwell and Reform Party fantasy land.

Any way you look at it, public health care is cheaper. It's been proven till the cows come home, and the only people saying otherwise are dishonest hacks. The worst part about it all is that when it comes down to it, why on earth would anyone want to get rid of such a wonderful system?

Oh yeah, because it offends the ideology of the twisted people who can't handle the idea of paying for something that will benefit other people.